How to get your washer agitating again

Photo 1: Unscrew the hold-down

Slide a 1/2-in.-drive, 6-in.-long socket extension bar into the square hole in
the hold-down and unscrew. Then remove the hold-down.

Photo 2: Remove the plastic plate

Poke a nail or small flat-blade
screwdriver into the recess on each
side of the ratchet assembly to
unlock the retaining plate. Then pull it
off to expose the dogs.

Photo 3: Replace the dogs

Drop four new dogs into the round
slots. Then snap on the retaining plate.

Whirlpool washing machines use a ratcheting-style agitator. The ratcheting pawls
(called “dogs”) can wear out with age, or break if you overload the machine. When
that happens, the agitator won't rotate. The parts are cheap (less than $5 at appliance
repair stores) and the repair is easy. Whirlpool used two ratchet designs,
depending on whether the washer has a plain agitator or one equipped with a
fabric softener dispenser. Replacing the dogs in a plain agitator is more complicated
and that's the one we show here.

Remove the agitator cap by prying up around the outer edge with a small flat-blade
screwdriver. Then unscrew the center hold-down (Photo 1). Reach in and
remove the ratchet assembly. Turn it upside down and remove the snap-in retaining
plate (Photo 2). Then install the new dogs and retaining plate (Photo 3). Then
reinstall the ratcheting assembly, tighten and pop on the lid.

If your washer has a fabric softener dispenser, remove it and unscrew the
ratchet assembly retaining bolt. Then lift the agitator out and tip it upside down.
The ratchet assembly will fall out—there's no retaining plate. Replace the dogs as
shown here. Then load the ratchet assembly into the upside-down agitator, flip it
over and tighten the bolt. Snap on the fabric softener dispenser.